Key-operated locks

ABSTRACT

A lock adapted to be operated by a bitted key and including dual locking features which must be both operated to cause the unlocking. A key-operated lock including a cylinder, a plug rotatable into the cylinder, tumblers carried by the plug and arranged to be displaced radially of the plug to lock and unlock the latter to the cylinder, at least one indentation into each tumbler, a locking side bar extending longitudinally of the plug and arranged to releasably lock the latter to the cylinder, and movable releasing members adapted to respond to predetermined positioning of the tumblers to release the locking side bar.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,837,197

Lopez 1 Sept. 24, 1974 KEY-OPERATED LOCKS 3,479,849 11/1969 Check 70/364A 3,507,133 4/1970 B2 h 70/42l [76] Inventor? Pea) Lopez 2295 de Londres3,722,240 3/1973 70/364 A St. Laurent, Quebec, Canada [22] Filed; Mar,19, 1973 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe A lock adapted to be operatedby a bitted key and in- [30] Foreign Application Priority Data cludingdual locking features which must be both op- Apr. 27, 1972 Canada 140775erated to aus t l king. A key-operated lock including a cylinder, a plugrotatable into the cylinder, [52] US. Cl 70/364 A, 70/378, 70/419 l rrri by the pl g and arranged to be dis- [51] Int. Cl E05b 15/14, EOSb27/02 placed radially of the plug to lock and unlock the lat- [58] Fieldof Search 70/364 A, 364 R, 365, 366, ter to the cylinder, at least oneindentation into each 70/378, 377, 419, 416, 421 tumbler, a locking sidebar extending longitudinally of the plug and arranged to releasably lockthe latter to [56] Referen Cit d the cylinder, and movable releasingmembers adapted UNITED STATES PATENTS to respond to predeterminedpositioning of the tum- 2,524,339 10/1950 Young 70/366 blers to releasethe lockmg 2,648,973 8/1953 Spain 70/366 6 Claims, 30 Drawing FiguresKEY-OPERATED LOCKS This invention relates to a lock of the type adaptedto be operated by a key.

In the above-mentioned type of locks, unlocking is basically produced bypredetermined radial displacements of tumblers into a core, commonlycalled a plug. A large number of different embodiments of this basicprinciple of operation have been conceived with the object to minimizethe possibility of picking the resulting locks.

The Applicant proposes locks of the above type which are adapted tooperate under a different basic principle involving dual lockingfeatures requiring a precise positioning of all the tumblers to allowrelease of the second locking feature.

It is therefore a general object of the invention to provide akey-operated lock including dual locking features arranged to minimizethe possibility of successfully picking the resulting locks.

It is another general object of the invention to provide key-operatedlocks which require precise positioning of all the tumblers to allowrelease of the second locking feature.

It is another general object of the invention to provide a key-operatedlock including rotatable lock pins which must be rotated topredetermined angular positions to allow release of the second lockingfeature.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a key-operatedlock including axially and angularly displaceable lock pins adapted tocooperate with a suitably bitted key to be precisely displaced by thelatter to predetermined axial and angular positions to release bothlocking features.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide 1 akey-operated lock including axially and angularly displaceable lock pinswhich affords a selection of angular positions for each lock pin,thereby affording an increased number of possible codes or bittings.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will bebetter understood in the light of the following description of preferredembodiments thereof which are illustrated, by way of example only, inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a key-operated lock according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view as seen along line 2-2 in FIG. 1 of afirst embodiment according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is. a side view of a plunger used in the keyoperated locksaccording to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view ofa lock pin according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a lock pin as seen along line 55 inFIG. 4.

FIGS. 6 and 8 are partial views ofa key according to the presentinvention illustrating the action of the key bits;

FIG. 7 is a partial side view of the key shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 inoperative association with lock pins according to the invention;

FIGS. 9, l0 and 11 are sequential views as seen along line 9-9 in FIG. 2and illustrating the action of the appropriate key;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged side view of the plug alone according to thefirst embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a side bar according to the invention;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are sequential views illustrating the operativedisplacement of the side bar.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of theinvention as seen along line 16-l6 in FIG. 17;

FIGS. 17, 18, and 19 are sequential cross-sectional views as seen alongline l717 in FIG. 16;

FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the lock of FIG. 16;

FIG. 21 is a front view of a tumbler plate according to the secondembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view as seen along line 22-22 in FIG. 21;FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of a key-operated lock according to athird embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 24, 25, and 26 are cross-sectional views of the cylinder plus asseen along lines 24-24, 25-25, and 26-26 in FIG. 23;

FIG. 25a is a cross-sectional view of the complete lock as seen alongline 25-25 in FIG. 23;

FIG. 27 is a partial view of a key adapted for use with the thirdembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 29 is a partial view ofa key adapted for use with" the fourthembodiment illustrated in FIG. 28.

The same reference numerals identify the same elements throughout thedifferent views.

The key-operated lock of the first embodiment of the invention,illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 15 inclusive, includes a cylinder 1 having aninternal bore 2 into which is rotatably mounted a plug 3 which isaxially restrained by a pair of rings 4 at opposite ends thereof. Thecylinder body 1 is adapted to be secured in any suitable manner into anaperture through a door 5 which is desired to be locked.

The plug 3 has a keyway 6 extending axially therethrough and formingwards 7 adapted to receive a complementarily warded key 8. The plug 3also has a row of radial tumbler bores 9 registering one to one with asimilar row of radial tumbler bores 10 into the cylinder 1, as is wellknown in the art. The bores 9 extend only part way into the keyway 6 toallow operative engagement ofthe key with the tumblers which arehereinafter defined in detail.

A tumbler is mounted into each pair of aligned bores 9 and 10 andincludes a lock pin 11 and a plunger 12 Iockingly abutting end to endunder the action of a compression spring 13. Each lock pin 11 andplunger 12 is formed with circumferential grooves to define annularshoulders 14 arranged to complicate the picking action on the lock. Eachlock pin 11 has a pointed key engaging end formed with a pair ofdiametrically opposite planar faces 15 which are inclined outwardly towards each other, thereby forming the pointed end. A bore 16 extendsdiametrically through each lock pin 11 in a predetermined angulardirection R,R' relative to the planar faces 15. The bores 16 of the rowof pins 11 are differently angularly arranged relative one to anotheraccording to a selected code, and as is well known, the lock pins 11 arealso of different lengths according to a selected code.

The appropriate key 8 to operate the tumblers is bitted according to thetwo selected codes, as will now be explained.

The key 8 includes a foremost face 17 which is inclined to form a rampcausing the lock pins 1]. to move upwardly upon insertion of the key.The dual code is imparted to the key by making notches of differentdepths into one edge thereof and by forming the said notches with sidefaces 18 which extend transversely at different angles R,R' according tothe code defined by the different angles of the bores 16. There resultsthat upon proper insertion of the properly bitted key 8, the lock pins11 will engage into the afore-mentioned notches and will be rotated byengagement with the angular faces thereof to cause all the bores 16 toextend parallel to each other transversely of the plug 3.

It should be appreciated later in the light of the following descriptionthat the bore 16 may be replaced by a pair of blind bores arranged atdiametrically opposite positions of the generally cylindrical lock pins11 or may even be replaced by a single blind bore or indentation. Theuse of a through bore 16 or two diametrically opposite indentations andtwo planar faces 15, instead of only one indentation and one planarface, is preferred to ensure response of the lock pins 11 to the rotaryaction produced by the faces 18.

The plug 3, as best shown in FIG. 12, has a circumferential groove 19arranged to receive one ring 4, an elongated cavity 20 extendinglengthwise thereof and formed to receive the locking side bar 21 and aseries of circumferential slots or grooves 22 aligned each with a bore 9and intersecting the elongated cavity 20. A

. blind bore 23 is formed at each end of the elongated cavity 20 andarranged to mount a compression spring 24 to bias the locking side bar21 radially outwardly. The latter has outwardly converging inclinedfaces 25 and 26 and transverse cutouts 27, equal in number to the slots22 and arranged to be transversely aligned therewith. An elongatedrecess 28 is formed into the periphery of the'bore 2 and extendslengthwise thereof. The recess 28 has a generally V-shaped cross-sectiondefining a pair of inclined faces 29 and 30 adapted to be engaged by theinclined faces 25 and 26 respectively.

An arcuated releasing blade or plate 31 is engaged edgewise into eachslot 22 and adapted to slide therein around the plug 3 and relative tothe latter and the cylinder 1. The arcuated releasing plate 31 includesa projection 32 adapted to engage into one end of the bore 16 when thelatter is precisely positioned in alignment therewith, as shown in FIGS.10 and 11. Each arcuated releasing plate or blade 31 is formed with anotch or cutout adapted to receive the locking side bar 21 and havingopposite inclined sides 33 and 34 forming a guideway for the bar 21.

When one or more lock pins 11 has its bore 16 misaligned with thecorresponding projection 32, the latter abuts against the lateral sideof the corresponding lock pin and through the inclined side 33, againstthe locking side bar 21 holding the latter against radially inwarddisplacement. The locking bar 21 then engages into both the cavity 20and the recess 25 and locks the plug 3 against rotation.

When the appropriate key 8 has been inserted into the keyway 6 and thelock pins 11 have all been thence displaced axially and angularly toalign the bores 16 with the corresponding projections 32, the rotationof the key in the direction of the arrow 35 in FIG. 11 may be effected,since the arcuated releasing plates 31 are allowed to be displacedaround the plug 3. The rotary effort on the latter is then transmittedthrough the inclined faces 25 and 30 into a radially inward displacementof the side bar 21. The latter then acts against the inclined side 33 tourge the arcuated releasing plates 31 towards the pins 11 until theprojections 32 have entered into the bores 16. Then, the locking slidebar 21 has been displaced sufficiently radially inwardly to escape theelongated recess 28 and to travel with the plug 3, as shown in FlG. 11.

The locking of the lock of FIGS. 1 to 15 inclusive is done bycounterrotating the key 8 and the plug 3 until the locking side bar 21aligns radially with the elongated recess 20. Then the springs 24 urgethe side bar 21 into the recess 20, causing the inclined face 26 to acton the inclined sides 34 and a resulting retraction of the projections32 from the bores 16. The key 8 may then be withdrawn, which causes thelock pins 11 to be lowered with odd alignments of their bores 16 by theaction of the ramp face 17 of the key on the lowering lock pins. I

The lock according to the second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 16 to22 inclusive includes a cylinder 36 into which is rotatably mounted aplug 37 supported at one end by a ring '38 and having a bolt actuatingmember 39 secured at its other end by means of screws 40 or the like.The plug 37 has a keyway 41 extending longitudinally therethrough and aseries of transverse slots 42, into which are slidably mounted slidingblades 43 forming the tumblers.

The cylinder 36 is provided with longitudinal spaces 44 and 45constructed and arranged for the extension of the sliding blades 43therein, thereby locking the plug 37 to the cylinder 36. Each slidingblade has a slot 46 generally aligned with the keyway 41 for theinsertion of a suitable key 37. Each sliding blade 43 is formed with anoffset lug 49 adapted to be engaged by a spring 49 urging thecorresponding blade radially outwardly for engagement into the space 44or 45. Notches or indentations 50 are formed into one edge of eachsliding blade 43.

Asvin the first embodiment, the plug of the lock is formed with anelongated cavity 20 adapted to receive the locking side bar 21, withcircumferential slots 22, and with blind bores 23 lodging springs 24.The cylinder 36 is provided with an elongated recess 28 which isarranged as in the first embodiment. An arcuated releasing plate 51 isassociated to each sliding blade 43 and includes a pair of projectionsarranged to engage into a pair of notches or indentations 50 of thecorresponding blade. Otherwise, the releasing plates 51 are constructedand operate like the releasing plates 31 of the embodiment of FlGS. 1 to15 inclusive.

When the appropriate key 47 is inserted into the keyway 41 of the lockof FIGS. 16 to 22 inclusive, the blades 43 are displaced radiallyinwardly as shown in FIG. 18, in which case the projections 52 areallowed to engage into the indentations 50 and to release the lockingside bar 21. The latter can then be caused to travel with the plug 37.

Additional indentations 53 are formed along the edge of each blade 43 tocomplicate and make substantially impossible the successful picking ofthe lock, since, as soon as one projection 52 will engage any falseindentation 53, the whole picking operation has to be started over torelease the blade 43 which had been wrongly engaged; otherwise thatblade still extends into one space 44 or 45 and locks the plug 37against rotation.

The lock according to the third embodiment of the invention, illustratedin FIGS. 23 to 27 inclusive, includes a cylinder 54 having thelongitudinal space 44 and 45, the elongated recess 28 and an additionalelongated recess 55 parallel to the other and similarly formed with aV-notch cross-section and inclined faces. A plug 56 is rotatably mountedinto the bore of the cylinder 54 and has a keyway 57 extendinglongitudinally therethrough. The plug 56 also has transverse slots 42having sliding blades 43 therein and other transverse slots 58 havingsliding blades 59 therein alternatively arranged with the blades 42 andurged outwardly in diametrically opposite direction relative to thelatter by springs 49 engaging offset lugs 48 formed into each slidingblade 43 and 59. Each sliding blade 59 also includes thesets of notches50 and 53 and the slot 46 for the key 47.

The plug 56 includes the elongated cavity and a second elongated cavity60, generally similar to the cavity 20. The plug 56 also includes thearcuated slots 22 and generally similar slots 61 intersecting theelongated cavity 60. A movable releasing plate 62 having projections 63is mounted into each slot 61 for actuate displacement towards and awayfrom the corresponding sliding blade 59. A locking side bar 21 ismounted into the elongated cavity 20 and a similar locking side bar 64is mounted into the second elongated cavity 60. The movable releasingplates 62 are also provided with a notch or guideway having oppositeinclined sides arranged to be engaged by the side bar 64 to actuate thesame. A key 65 having opposite edges suitably bitted, as shown in FIG.27, is inserted into the keyway 57, causing radially inward displacementof the two sets of sliding blades 43 and 59 and the alignment of thenotches 50 of both sets of blades with the projections 52 and 63 of thecorresponding releasing plates 51 and 62. The plug 56 may then berotated either way, as all the releasing plates 51 and 62 allow bothside bars 21 and 64 to retract radially inwardly to disengage thecylinder 54.

It will be readily appreciated that when any sliding blade 43 or 59 isimproperly displaced, whether a projection engages into a false notch 53or not, the plug 56 will remain locked against rotation. It thereforeresults that improper pickingof even only one sliding blade will counterthe opening of the lock.

The fourth embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 28 and 29 defines the basicconcept of the first embodiment applied to a lock which includes tworows of tumblers diametrically opposed, instead of only one row. Eachlock pin 11 must therefore become aligned with the correspondingprojection 32 before the plug can be rotated by rotation of theappropriate key 66.

In FIGS. 24 and 27, P indicates the pitch or spacing between any twoadjacent sliding blades 43 and P between two adjacent sliding blades 59.In FIG. 29, P" and P' indicate the pitches for the two rows of lock pins12. It should be noted that to produce correct alignment of all thebores 16, the pitches P" and P must be equal and in phase.

Each sliding blade 43, 59 is formed with other false indentations 67 atcorners thereof, which is adapted to engage one of the lips 68 definedby the spaces 44 or 45 upon an attempt to pick the lock. There resultsadded confusion to perform the picking action.

Referring to FIG. 20, it will be noted that ring 38 has an internalnotch 28 to receive the end of side bar 21. Ring 38 does not rotate andits inside cylindrical surface prevents side bar 21 from entering space44 when plug 37 is rotated to the position of FIG. 19.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 12, 20, 23, 24, tempered steel pins 69 are pressfitted transversely into the front end portion of plug 3, 37 or 56 toprevent breaking the lock by drilling through the plug and the plungers12 or sliding blades 43.

Referring to FIGs. 6 to 8, it is obvious that angle R, R could benegative. One could thus provide key side faces 18 extendingtransversely with alternate inclinations.

I claim:

l. A key-operated lock comprising a cylinder, a key plug rotatable insaid cylinder, a locking side bar carried by said key pluglongitudinally thereof in a cavity of the key plug for rotationtherewith and movable be tween a retracted position in which said sidebar is totally within said cavity and a locking position in which a partof said side bar extends outwardly of said key plug and engages into alongitudinal recess in said cylinder, at least one of said side bar andcavity having an inclined surface engageable by the other of said cavityand side bar to cause retraction of said side bar from said cavity intosaid retracted position upon rotation of said key plug, spring meansurging said side bar into said locking position, tumblers for lockingsaid key plug to said cylinder, spaced-apart releasing members car riedby said plug around the latter for rotation therewith and in respectivetransverse alignment with said tumblers, the latter having indentations,said releasing members movable relative to said plug between a retractedposition clearing said tumblers and an advanced position engaging saidindentations, said releasing members each having a notch with aninclined side, said notches being in register longitudinally of saidplug and receiving said side bar, movement of said bar from its lockingposition to its retracted position causing movement of said releasingmembers relative to said plug from their retracted position to theiradvanced position due to coaction between said notch inclined side andsaid side bar, the latter preventing rotation of said plug in saidcylinder, when said releasing members are prevented from moving to theiradvanced position by said tumblers when their indentations are not allin register with the respective releasing members.

2. A key-operated lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein said recess has apair of inclined surfaces and said locking side bar includes a pair ofinclined faces arranged to selectively co-operate with said inclinedsurfaces and cause retracting movement of said side bar upon rotation ofsaid key plug in any of two directions in said cylinder.

3. A key-operated lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plug includescircumferential slots intersecting said tumblers respectively and eachof said releasing members forms an arcuate plate slidably mounted intoone of said circumferential slots and intersecting said cavity.

4. A key-operated lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of saidtumblers includes a generally cylindrical lock pin rotatable in a radialbore of said plug and having said indentation formed at a predeterminedangular position and level at the lateral face thereof. a rotationtransmitting and key-engaging means is provided on said locking pin andarranged to be operatively engaged by a key having a predeterminedrotation producing bitting to rotate said locking pin and to causealignment of all of said indentations with said releasing members,respectively. thereby allowing said engagement of said releasingmembers, retracting movement of said side bar and rotation of said plugwithin said cylinder.

5. A keyoperated lock as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of saidtumblers includes a lock pin, a plunger and a biasing spring extendinginto a pair of aligned radial bores in said cylinder and plugrespectively, and each said lock pin is provided with at least oneannular shoulder arranged to be engaged by a picking tool to deceivepicking action on the lock.

6. A key-operated lock as defined in claim 1, wherein sliding blades aremounted in a row into said plug and arranged in spaced-apartrelationship lengthwise of the latter and form a first set of tumblersconstituting said tumblers operatively associated to said locking sidebar and to said releasing means, and said sliding blades form a secondset of tumblers and are constructed and arranged to slide outwardly ofsaid plug in opposite direction relative to the sliding blades of saidfirst set of tumblers, each of said sliding blades includes a holetherethrough for the insertion of a suitable key, each of said slidingblades has an indentation into one edge thereof, the indentations of thesliding blades of said first set and of said second set are arranged atthe diametrically opposite ends respectively of said blades, and alongthe same edge thereof, said releasing members and said locking side barsare operatively associated to the sliding blades of said first set, andother movable releasing members and another locking side bar aresimilarly operatively associated to the sliding blades of said secondset, whereby to allow rotation of said plug in either direction uponengagement of all said releasing members into all said indentationsrespectively.

1. A key-operated lock comprising a cylinder, a key plug rotatable insaid cylinder, a locking side bar carried by said key pluglongitudinally thereof in a cavity of the key plug for rotationtherewith and movable between a retracted position in which said sidebar is totally within said cavity and a locking position in which a partof said side bar extends outwardly of said key plug and engages into alongitudinal recess in said cylinder, at least one of said side bar andcavity having an inclined surface engageable by the other of said cavityand side bar to cause retraction of said side bar from said cavity intosaid retracted position upon rotation of said key plug, spring meansurging said side bar into said locking position, tumblers for lockingsaid key plug to said cylinder, spaced-apart releasing members carriedby said plug around the latter for rotation therewith and in respectivetransverse alignment with said tumblers, the latter having indentations,said releasing members movable relative to said plug between a retractedposition clearing said tumblers and an advanced position engaging saidindentations, said releasing members each having a notch with aninclined side, said notches being in register longitudinally of saidplug and receiving said side bar, movement of said bar from its lockingposition to its retracted position causing movement of said releasingmembers relaTive to said plug from their retracted position to theiradvanced position due to coaction between said notch inclined side andsaid side bar, the latter preventing rotation of said plug in saidcylinder, when said releasing members are prevented from moving to theiradvanced position by said tumblers when their indentations are not allin register with the respective releasing members.
 2. A key-operatedlock as claimed in claim 1, wherein said recess has a pair of inclinedsurfaces and said locking side bar includes a pair of inclined facesarranged to selectively co-operate with said inclined surfaces and causeretracting movement of said side bar upon rotation of said key plug inany of two directions in said cylinder.
 3. A key-operated lock asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said plug includes circumferential slotsintersecting said tumblers respectively and each of said releasingmembers forms an arcuate plate slidably mounted into one of saidcircumferential slots and intersecting said cavity.
 4. A key-operatedlock as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said tumblers includes agenerally cylindrical lock pin rotatable in a radial bore of said plugand having said indentation formed at a predetermined angular positionand level at the lateral face thereof, a rotation transmitting andkey-engaging means is provided on said locking pin and arranged to beoperatively engaged by a key having a predetermined rotation producingbitting to rotate said locking pin and to cause alignment of all of saidindentations with said releasing members, respectively, thereby allowingsaid engagement of said releasing members, retracting movement of saidside bar and rotation of said plug within said cylinder.
 5. Akey-operated lock as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said tumblersincludes a lock pin, a plunger and a biasing spring extending into apair of aligned radial bores in said cylinder and plug respectively, andeach said lock pin is provided with at least one annular shoulderarranged to be engaged by a picking tool to deceive picking action onthe lock.
 6. A key-operated lock as defined in claim 1, wherein slidingblades are mounted in a row into said plug and arranged in spaced-apartrelationship lengthwise of the latter and form a first set of tumblersconstituting said tumblers operatively associated to said locking sidebar and to said releasing means, and said sliding blades form a secondset of tumblers and are constructed and arranged to slide outwardly ofsaid plug in opposite direction relative to the sliding blades of saidfirst set of tumblers, each of said sliding blades includes a holetherethrough for the insertion of a suitable key, each of said slidingblades has an indentation into one edge thereof, the indentations of thesliding blades of said first set and of said second set are arranged atthe diametrically opposite ends respectively of said blades, and alongthe same edge thereof, said releasing members and said locking side barsare operatively associated to the sliding blades of said first set, andother movable releasing members and another locking side bar aresimilarly operatively associated to the sliding blades of said secondset, whereby to allow rotation of said plug in either direction uponengagement of all said releasing members into all said indentationsrespectively.